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SpaceX launched the latest AsiaSat satellite this
morning, proving itself again as a likely NASA
partner for the trip to Mars, but the launch
was missing an important feature, re-usability.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched
at 4AM Tuesday morning.
The Falcon 9 delivered the AsiaSat 8 satellite
into orbit for the Asia Satellite
Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat), a Hong
Kong based commercial operator for
communications spacecraft. The satellite will
provide a boost to the ICT infrastructure in
Asia as an AsiaSat representative explained:
What made this launch interesting, aside from
the incredibly powerful satellite, is that the
launch did not include a re-usability test for
its rocket.
Reusable rockets are a huge potential
contribution to the space flight industry.
According to SpaceX representatives, a
reusable rocket has the potential to reduce the
cost of space launches by a factor of 100,
which would be a huge boost for researching a
Mars trip.
SpaceX has successfully tested reusable Falcon
9 rockets a number of times. The most recent
being a launch for commercial-satellite firm
Orbcomm that took place last month.
SpaceX has been hitting the airwaves to
promote its development of the first rapidly
reusable rocket. Impressive video of the tests,
like the one shown below, highlight the
potential to greatly reduce the cost of space
adventures, including a future trip to Mars.
U.S. companies, like SpaceX, are part of NASA’s
plan for a manned journey to Mars. With NASA
shuttle program in retirement, getting
astronauts into Earth’s low-orbit will soon be a
job for the American private sector.
This Diagram shows NASA’s idea for a trip to
Mars
(Image Credit: NASA)
SpaceX has said that its first manned mission
would be no sooner than mid-2015, on board
one of its Dragon spacecraft . That launch may
prove to be a turning point for space travel, as
reusable rockets allow NASA to stretch its
limited budget further than ever before.
Mars One , a Dutch non-profit organization
dedicated to conceptualizing a journey to
Mars, has also included SpaceX as a
fundamental component of the journey to
Mars.
Although SpaceX has said its been in contact
with Mars One, working with the non-profit
was not part of the current focus for SpaceX.
Will the next decade be one of rapid
advancements in space travel, where private
firms like SpaceX lay the groundwork for a
cost-effective space infrastructure and a
mission to Mars? Only time will tell. Another Successful Launch, Is SpaceX America's Path To Mars?
morning, proving itself again as a likely NASA
partner for the trip to Mars, but the launch
was missing an important feature, re-usability.
SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched
at 4AM Tuesday morning.
The Falcon 9 delivered the AsiaSat 8 satellite
into orbit for the Asia Satellite
Telecommunications Company (AsiaSat), a Hong
Kong based commercial operator for
communications spacecraft. The satellite will
provide a boost to the ICT infrastructure in
Asia as an AsiaSat representative explained:
What made this launch interesting, aside from
the incredibly powerful satellite, is that the
launch did not include a re-usability test for
its rocket.
Reusable rockets are a huge potential
contribution to the space flight industry.
According to SpaceX representatives, a
reusable rocket has the potential to reduce the
cost of space launches by a factor of 100,
which would be a huge boost for researching a
Mars trip.
SpaceX has successfully tested reusable Falcon
9 rockets a number of times. The most recent
being a launch for commercial-satellite firm
Orbcomm that took place last month.
SpaceX has been hitting the airwaves to
promote its development of the first rapidly
reusable rocket. Impressive video of the tests,
like the one shown below, highlight the
potential to greatly reduce the cost of space
adventures, including a future trip to Mars.
U.S. companies, like SpaceX, are part of NASA’s
plan for a manned journey to Mars. With NASA
shuttle program in retirement, getting
astronauts into Earth’s low-orbit will soon be a
job for the American private sector.
This Diagram shows NASA’s idea for a trip to
Mars
(Image Credit: NASA)
SpaceX has said that its first manned mission
would be no sooner than mid-2015, on board
one of its Dragon spacecraft . That launch may
prove to be a turning point for space travel, as
reusable rockets allow NASA to stretch its
limited budget further than ever before.
Mars One , a Dutch non-profit organization
dedicated to conceptualizing a journey to
Mars, has also included SpaceX as a
fundamental component of the journey to
Mars.
Although SpaceX has said its been in contact
with Mars One, working with the non-profit
was not part of the current focus for SpaceX.
Will the next decade be one of rapid
advancements in space travel, where private
firms like SpaceX lay the groundwork for a
cost-effective space infrastructure and a
mission to Mars? Only time will tell. Another Successful Launch, Is SpaceX America's Path To Mars?
